Domestic Service Collection

The Centenary Fete of the Asylum for Female Orphans - the Archbishop of Canterbury Saying Grace, 1858 Creator: Unknown
The Centenary Fete of the Asylum for Female Orphans - the Archbishop of Canterbury Saying Grace, 1858. The object of the charity is to provide a home for orphan girls

AI IMAGE - Victorian period kitchen with housekeeper and maid, 2023. Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - Victorian period kitchen with housekeeper and maid, 2023

Old Anna. From A Home (26 watercolours). Creator: Carl Larsson
Old Anna. From A Home (26 watercolours), Unknown date

Maid from The Hague, 1775. Creator: Paulus Constantijn la Fargue
Maid from The Hague, 1775

Dienstmeisjes op de Leidsegracht, c.1890-c.1900. Creator: Isaac Lazerus Israels
Maids on the Leidsegracht, c.1890-c.1900. (The Leidsegracht is a canal in Amsterdam)

Madame Leroux'; By Francis Eleanor Trollope; Whereapon the housemaid said she know'd the young man Creator
Madame Leroux'; By Francis Eleanor Trollope; Whereupon the housemaid said she know'd the young man wasn't waiting there for nothing, and set them down as a couple of sweethearts, 1890

Pupils at Uppsala Housekeeping School, 1890-1899. Creator: Henri Osti
Pupils at Uppsala Housekeeping School, 1890-1899. The girls are dressed in dark dresses and light aprons, three of them have a white cap on their head. The girls hold various household utensils

Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, (1933). Creator: Unknown
Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, (1933)....maid servants...still wore the badge of their status - the apron - even on their day out

Hampton Institute, Va. 1899 - Classroom scenes - laundry shop, 1899 or 1900. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
Hampton Institute, Va. 1899 - Classroom scenes - laundry shop, 1899 or 1900

Rag Doll "Susie", c. 1937. Creator: Bertha Semple
Rag Doll " Susie", c. 1937

Marionette - "Biddy", c. 1939. Creator: Hilda Olson
Marionette - " Biddy", c. 1939

Morning, 1886. Creator: James Tissot
Morning, 1886

Advertisement for Patrician shoes for women (colour litho)
5235944 Advertisement for Patrician shoes for women (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The new housemaid. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786207 The new housemaid. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Faivre, Jules Abel (1867-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The new housemaid)

A Dutch kitchen in 1746 (engraving)
969047 A Dutch kitchen in 1746 (engraving) by Dutch School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dutch kitchen in 1746)

Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786409 Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Fau, Fernand (1858-1919); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Le Rire, 4 January 1908.); © Look and Learn

Artistic and domestic training at the William Street Board School, Hammersmith, London (litho)
6014104 Artistic and domestic training at the William Street Board School, Hammersmith, London (litho) by Ward, Enoch (1859-1922); Private Collection; (add.info)

La Nouvelle Servante (The New Servant) (colour litho)
3098644 La Nouvelle Servante (The New Servant) (colour litho) by Cain, Georges Jules Auguste (1856-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Nouvelle Servante (The New Servant)

The Young Housekeeper, 1741-63. Creator: John Ingram
The Young Housekeeper, 1741-63

A Woman From Savoy, 1737. Creator: Caylus, Anne-Claude-Philippe de
A Woman From Savoy, 1737

Pea Shellers, 1737. Creator: Caylus, Anne-Claude-Philippe de
Pea Shellers, 1737

Bronze hand bell, c1530-c1570, (1881). Creator: W E Mackaness
Bronze hand bell, c1530-c1570, (1881). Etching of a small bell with the arms of the Lippomani family of Venice, made in Italy (probably the Veneto), in the mid 16th century

A Maid, 19th century. Artist: Wilhelm Amberg
A Maid, 19th century. Found in the collection of the M Kroshitsky Art Museum, Sevastopol, Ukraine

The Young Servant, 1882. Artist: Camille Pissarro
The Young Servant, 1882. From the Tate Gallery, London

The Little Domestic, 1869, (1938). Artist: Pierre Edouard Frere
The Little Domestic, 1869, (1938). From A Catalogue of the Pictures and Drawings in the collection of Frederick John Nettleford, Volume IV, by C. Reginald Grundy and F. Gordon Roe

Nearly worried to death by the Greatest Plague of Life, c1840s. Artist: George Cruikshank
Nearly worried to death by the Greatest Plague of Life, c1840s. Cartoon sketch: Adventures of a lady in search of a good servant/by one who has been almost worried to death

Chambermaid, c1871-1919. Artist: Henri Boutet
Chambermaid, c1871-1919. From a private collection

It is nicely stretched, 1799. Artist: Francisco Goya
It is nicely stretched, 1799. Plate 17 of Los caprichos. Los Caprichos were published in 1799 at a time of social repression and economic crisis in Spain

There they go, plucked, 1799. Artist: Francisco Goya
There they go, plucked, 1799. Plate 20 of Los caprichos. Los Caprichos were published in 1799 at a time of social repression and economic crisis in Spain

Girl on her way to starting work in domestic service, 1884. Artist: Marian Gardiner
Girl on her way to starting work in domestic service, 1884. A country girl in a railway carriage leaving home for the first time to go into service as a maid in a city

Samuel Johnson, 18th century English man of letters in his house off Fleet Street, London, 1852
Samuel Johnson, 18th century English man of letters in his house off Fleet Street, London, attended by his servant, Francis, and Mrs Williams, 1852

Domestic servants, 1901. Cook and kitchen maid, parlour maid and scullery maids. Chapter headpiece from The Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton. (London, 1901). First published 1859-1860

Footman, 1888. Footman presenting a card that a caller has left for the lady of the house. (London, 1888)

Oh ah! let em ring again!, 1847. Artist: George Cruikshank
Oh ah! let em ring again!, 1847. Rebellion below stairs as the servants, snug in front of the range, fail to answer the house bells at the first ring

What Will Become of the Servant-Gals?, 1865. Artist: George du Maurier
What Will Become of the Servant-Gals?, 1865. The lady of the house shows a benevolent gentleman visitor where her housemaid sleeps. This appears to be an outhouse, damp and dirty

Household maid (b / w photo)
XJF425602 Household maid (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

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"Exploring the World of Domestic Service: A Glimpse into History" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating world with these captivating images. First, we have "Appy Ampstead on a Bank Holiday, 1900, " a snapshot from an unknown creator that transports us to a joyful day off for domestic workers. The scene is filled with laughter and camaraderie as they enjoy their well-deserved break. Next, Camille Pissarro's "The Young Servant, 1882" captures the innocence and youthfulness of those who entered this profession at an early age. Their determination shines through as they navigate their responsibilities with grace. Bertha Semple's creation, "Rag Doll 'Susie', c. 1937, " reminds us that even amidst demanding duties, there was room for playfulness and imagination within the lives of domestic servants. This cherished doll symbolizes companionship during long hours spent serving others. Hilda Olson's marionette masterpiece, "Marionette - 'Biddy', c. 1939, " showcases the artistry involved in entertaining households while providing amusement to both young and old alike. James Tissot's painting titled "Morning, 1886" offers a glimpse into the daily routine of household staff as they diligently prepare breakfast for their employers before embarking on another busy day. An advertisement for Patrician shoes for women highlights how fashion played its part even within domestic service; it demonstrates that style was not limited to those outside these roles but extended to all aspects of life. "The new housemaid, " an illustration featured in Le Rire (colour litho), humorously depicts the challenges faced by both employer and employee when adjusting to each other's idiosyncrasies within a newly formed working relationship. Transporting us further back in time is an engraving showcasing "A Dutch kitchen in 1746.